On Ferrari Friday’s, William Ross from the Exotic Car Marketplace will be discussing all things Ferrari and interviewing people that live and breath the Ferrari brand. Topics range from road cars to racing; drivers to owners, as well as auctions, private sales and trends in the collector market.
In this episode William talks about the 1965 24 Hours of LeMans and the last Ferrari to win there and the story of the race. Ferrari 250LM chassis number 5893.
Episode 9
And welcome back everybody to the Ferrari Marketplace. This is your host, William, and I appreciate everybody listening. And I didn’t get an episode out last week. I’ve been working on some other things. So kind of got a little busy. But hey, back and ready for more. Um, I hope everyone’s enjoying this podcast.
I said, I’m still working on the kinks and whatnot. Um, I said, I don’t have some professional studio. You know, it’s sound deadening on the walls and all that jazz and whatnot. You know, I’m just kind of doing this on my desktop computer here with the microphone and whatnot. So I, hopefully it’s getting there.
I’m working on it. Like I said, [00:01:00] any thoughts, any, you know, suggestions, topics, anything. Hey, just shoot me an email. William at the Ferrari marketplace. com. Easy enough. I’d appreciate any input. Uh, like I said, anything I can do to help improve this. Um, anything to make this a better listening, you know, enjoyment.
For you guys out there listening. Uh, I really appreciate it. Hey, I just want to make this a really awesome podcast everything, you know, everything, anything about Ferraris, you know, not so much, you know, even the marketplace, it was for sale. Hey, what happened at auction at events, whatnot. So kind of run the gamut.
Like I said, I noticed that in the first few episodes, you know, there was quite a few downloads right off the bat, but it’s kind of slowed down just a tad, but I don’t know if that’s just because of the topic. Uh, my, My crappy podcast speeching talking I guess I don’t know how you’d put that but I don’t know But hey, I appreciate the people that are still listening and I keep downloading these newer episodes So again, I really appreciate that.
And like I said any thought suggestions whatnot. Hey, just let me know Just shoot me that email. I’d [00:02:00] really appreciate any input and hey also just Spread the word. Get it out there. Um, you know, tell your friends, tell your other Ferrari enthusiasts, uh, car enthusiasts, whatnot, you know, uh, tell them to download the episodes and take a listen.
Like I said, can’t hurt, right? There’s not that much time out of your day. And what the heck? Pop it in while you’re driving the car. Something to listen to. I don’t think my voice is that bad, do you? But anyways, onward to today’s episode. Today, we are going to talk about The last Ferrari to win Le Mans and we’re gonna talk about the race itself too because the race is crazy crazy stuff I don’t know how familiar you all might be with that 1965 race, but it was some crazy stuff But we’re gonna talk about chassis number five eight nine three the last Ferrari to win Le Mans the 250 LM Now a little history behind that car Now Ferrari your game plan was is you know, they were racing that car, you know quite a bit around I think they built [00:03:00] I believe it was 34 of those cars.
Now they’re trying to pull the fast one like they did the year before the GTO. And. You know, 65, you know, the, the FIA now wasn’t having any of it in regards to, you know, oh, that’s homologated and you do it. And they did, so they didn’t, he couldn’t do the DTO because it wasn’t homologated for the GT class.
And so he tried to get it. For the two 50 L. M. But they said, Nah, I don’t think so. Um, they were not going to let that fly. So they had to run in the prototype class, which was going up against the four GT forties. Now, everyone’s very familiar with that story. Ford versus Ferrari and, you know, bringing everything to, you know, to light and whatnot.
And, you know, the first shot of this was in 64 and sorry about that. Had a phone call coming in. Apologize for that. Um, But anyways, everyone is very familiar with that whole story, but you know, the first race, the first time Ford Iverson entered was [00:04:00] in 64. It is everything, what the hell, in a handbasket.
And 65, you know, they brought quite a few. Then, um, they had two of the cars with the huge ass 7 liter engines in them. You know, they were just going all hell bent, you know, to beat Ferrari and what not. But anyways, that’s what the story is about. This is the story about the 250 LM. So anyways. They had to run those cards in the prototype class against the Fords.
So, so be it. So, basically, they all thought they had no shot. Um, you know, so there was quite a few of these cards that were entered. A majority of them Or actually entered by privateers The one that we’re going to talk about was actually, you know entered by Luigi Chinetti’s North American racing team NART and do it so That’s where this came in.
But now there’s a said there’s a few other Private entries that were put out there, but there’s also a few factory entries that were put also out there. [00:05:00] So, there was some nice, there was a nice effort behind it, but they just thought they didn’t have a chance because they were going to be classified in the prototype, and they’re going against the Ford GT40s.
So anyways, they, you know, hey, set things up, let’s get racing, right? Um, so, this car, they qualified in 11th place. I mean, yeah, it’s down there a little bit, a little bit ways. You know, the thing was, is the Jeep Ford GT 40s were, you know, the top end speed on those things was absolutely ridiculous. You know, uh, the fastest it’s ever been seen there at Lamar.
I think at one point they were 219 miles an hour. I think it was on the Mulsanne. So obviously those things were trucking along. Long story short, we know what happened with the Ford GT 40s, but anyways. In this particular car, there was actually, you know, and like I said, not sure how many there are, but listed on the driving entry, there was actually, it says there’s three.
There was Mastin Gregory, [00:06:00] Yocan Rint, but also American Ed Hugus. Now. This is kind of a, you know, as they say, a, um, bar stool story type deal, uh, in regards to Ed Hugus actually being one of the drivers or participating. Um, you know, it was really kept hush hush for a long time, but, you know, certain people said no, certain people said yes, Ed Hugus said yes.
Um, Luigi Cianetti Jr., who was actually at the race in the pits, said no, he didn’t get in the car and race. Cause the big thing was Is, you know, by the rules and everything like that, if he had gotten actually, if he had been in the car when, uh, Mastin came in and he got injured, so if there would have been a big to do about it and they would have got disqualified.
So they really didn’t, um, get into it too much about it. So it kind of kept us hush hush. But, I said, you know, in the, the lore of the 24 hours of Le Mans. Um, it’s pretty much stated that, you know, he actually didn’t [00:07:00] drive, but you know what I said, it all depends on who you were talking with. So anyways, so they qualify in 11th place.
So they get trucking along, you know, race starts, the GT 40s, you know, they take off just like bats out of hell, you know, gone, going in there. Well, In the 4th hour of the race, the car actually ran into some mechanical problems. Um, and they had to change a distributor on the car and lost about 30 minutes.
So they actually were like about 10 laps down, 4 hours into the race. And they were down in 18th position. So, um, it’s, you know, they had some catching up to and basically, you know, kind of, More to the story was Mastin and Yogan did not even want to be there because they knew they had in their minds. They had no shot of winning, you know, and they thought it was a big waste of time.
So they kind of had an agreement between the two of [00:08:00] them, whatnot. And again, we don’t know if that was involved in this or not, but, um, had nothing. We’re just going to drive flat out. We’re just going to beat the piss out of this car and just go balls out and see what we can do. Um, now I obviously everyone knows back in those days.
With the cars that was more, you know, it wasn’t a sprint like it was today where you’re almost doing qualifying laps, you know, lap in, lap out, you know, you had to, I want to say nurse the car, but you had to really take care of your machinery back then, which your cars, you know, not saying they were super delicate, but, you know, this equipment, you know, being manufactured back then, the brakes engine, you know, stuff like that tires yourself, you know, was it made to be Beat non lap in lap out lap in lap out, you know, so you have really had to And again, I want to say nurse the car, but you had to be very I say delicate But you you know You just had to know how to work the car and not push it to an extreme But also not go too slow because obviously you want to win.
But anyways So [00:09:00] these two were you know had things like screw it We’re just gonna go as balls out as fast as we can and then especially when the fact this came by the fourth hour Uh, they had mechanical problems. They were stuck in the pits for about a half hour and went 10 laps down. So that kind of like putting things out, well, what’s going on.
So anyways, so cruising along, um, and you know, kind of going to the get back to the race and you don’t know, is really even paying attention to this car and, you know, cause it’s way down, it’s 10 laps down. And there’s really no way they’d have a shot in their, in their mind. Anyways, even getting on the podium.
Was, you know, kind of out there. So they said, keep things interesting, you know, we’re just going to go, go balls out, screw it. So anyways. Uh, the Ford, the seven liter cars were some of the first that were getting, uh, knocked out of the race. First, you know, they had massive, you know, just gas mileage issues were just horrendous.
They keep [00:10:00] having to make so many stops because these engines were just gulping down gasoline. Uh, and then the big thing that happened was because of the monster’s torque out of those seven liters, their transmission just all blew up. So those two were out. First ones out were those big seven liters.
It’s just, you know, one thing was, you know, just the motors itself sucking up gas, but the transmission just couldn’t handle the torque. But then the small engine Fords hit trouble and so after six hours, they, all the Ford GT Fords were out of the race. So, all Ferraris held the top five places and there it was, it was theirs to lose.
So, but anyways, and I could say, and lose they did because the factory entries ended up, you know, falling apart. But anyways, the um, in the middle of the night, the uh, cars from the British Maranello Concessionaires cars, they went out during the night. Um, then the factory cars are factory sponsored, you know, started to fall by the wayside.
Now, the one thing was in regards to, you know, they’re saying that the disc brakes, you know, [00:11:00] that got manufactured when the cars were not the greatest. Um, so what happened was is they were telling their drivers, Hey, you know, instead of using your brakes so much thing, use the engine to slow the car down.
So, and as you know, that puts an immense amount of strain on a motor and transmission. Trying to do that. You know, if you’re going, you know, 110 miles an hour in the corner and you drop it down into third or second, you know, that should only be topping out at 80 miles an hour or something like that. You know, that’s really going to just blow things up.
Well, sure enough, bam, all the factory entries from Ferrari started going by the wayside. So all of these were pretty much, you know, you know, come morning, you know, all those, the factory engines, everything were, uh, All done. Everything like that. But now, see in the middle of the night, this is where that, you know, the legend, the story comes in about this supposed third driver, Ed Hugus.
[00:12:00] Now, what came about was, obviously, you know, with the rules and regulations going on, and those two, you know, Gregory and Rint not even giving two shits about the race, you know, and just going on. And, When Gregory was in the car in the headstand, Johan, Jochen Ritt just, he disappeared. And it’s kind of debatable, people really aren’t exactly sure if he was over there sleeping, or if he went and he was having some beers and having some fun or what not.
Some even said he actually even left the track entirely, because he figured there’s no way this car was going to make it. So, What happened was is when Mastin came in to change drivers because he was just absolutely beat. He had been doing a long stint. I think he did it like a two or three, you know, uh, stints, uh, straight stints in the car.
Um, he came in and obviously rent was nowhere to be found. So they don’t know what to do. So this is where the story comes in, where Ed Hugus jumped in the car and under the cover of Darkus and took off [00:13:00] and started driving. Um, how many hours? I’m not exactly sure, but again, because it really was never enlisted as him being a driver.
So it wasn’t really kind of wrote announcing, Oh, I did this many hours. This did this stint, blah, blah, blah. Um, but I said, you know, today’s son, you know, he didn’t definitively say no, but he didn’t, did, did, did not definitively say yes, that he drove in a car, but his said it was though you thought it was highly unlikely.
So anyways. So coming back and you know, so suppose it’s Hugus is out in the car and he comes back in and there we go. And guess who gets back to the car? Gregory Massing gets back in the car and starts driving more. So by this time, Greg’s by the car, they found rent and rent is like shocked as all get out.
As you can imagine saying, well, wait, the car’s not retired. So it’s a, Kind of, you know, funny. It’s like, Oh, okay. Well, maybe we do have a shot at this now because he’s [00:14:00] coming in. What happened was, is they were basically coming in the morning. They were in the cars all falling out. They were in second place.
But here’s kind of another loop in the story. Kind of just another, I would say not curve ball, but another, you know, one story for the ages. Um, they were actually behind in second place behind the Belgian team that was also in a 250 LM and running. Now. So, these all European cars were on Dunlop’s, but the Nart car with Gregory and Rint were on Goodyear’s.
Now, Bastian Gregory and Johan Rint were exceptionally faster than the drivers of the Belgian team. And so, in the morning hours, a certain representative from the Dunlop Tire Company comes down to their pit, to the Nart pit, and I want to say kindly asked, but basically states, uh, and under the guise that this was coming from the big man [00:15:00] himself, Enzo, please slow, have your drivers slow down.
Let the Belgian team win because they’re on Dunlop’s and you guys are on Goodyear’s and we can’t have that because for ours at that time, we’re all sold supplied with Dunlop’s. So Chinetti being Chinetti, and being probably the only one that could really kind of, I guess, stand up to Enzo, I mean, historize what not and everything he’s done for him, said piss off.
Uh, that wasn’t gonna happen. So, everything’s moving forward, and funny enough, , what does happen to the Belgian team when their dunlops explodes and it just tears up the card to all the hell in the hand basket and shreds the body work the whole nine yards. So it, it just goes upon. So by the time they’re able to get the car back to the pits and get things repaired, it’s over and done with Rent and Garry are ba in the front.
So anyways, they cruise to victory and they win by five laps. I mean, isn’t that awesome or what? I mean, [00:16:00] from the start of the race where two guys basically said, we have no chance of winning this race, to winning by five laps. I mean, they were ten laps down after four hours in. Usually that thing, forget it, you’re done.
And then Rint disappearing in the middle of the night. Um, then, you know, supposedly Ed Hugus get in the car in the middle of the night because he disappeared, you know, so there’s all these little stories within the story about stuff in regards to this car or this race in the car and the drivers and everything.
So will it ever be? No, Ed Hughes passed away, unfortunately, in 2006. So, but, you know, Ed was a super nice gentleman, very honest man, and he had made the comment and said that, yeah, he did drive in the car. But again, some people say no, and I don’t know if there’s paranoia that they think, you know, That they’re gonna go back 50 some odd years and basically say, oh, sorry, , if we’re gonna take that win away from you, I doubt it highly.
Um, what’s done is done. So, but it’s kind of just a very, very interesting story. [00:17:00] But that card, the, the last Ferrari two win, Lamar, the two 50 Lmm chassis 5 8 9 3, now resides in the Indianapolis Motor Museum Motor Museum in Indianapolis at the Speedway. Um. I always thought it was kind of odd in regards to the certain cars and I don’t know if you’ve ever been to that museum But it’s awesome.
It’s got some cool stuff and you would think going there Oh, they probably just got old Indy cars and you know, the front engine stuff and the Offenhausers and that stuff You know from back in the day, but actually they have quite a collection now I know recently they’ve been starting to sell off a bunch of stuff that really either a I don’t say need to work What not really didn’t fit into their parameters I think they’re kind of restructuring things but they got some really cool stuff I mean, they got the last Friday with my, um, I can’t imagine what that thing would be worth that thing went out to market or even to auction.
I know in 2014, uh, a two 50 lm or reasons like for went for almost like just under 20 million, something like that. And that was the one that [00:18:00] one Lamar, the last part of when Lamar. So you gotta figure this thing is probably 30 40 million be my guess. Um, it’d be interesting to find out someone how to try.
I mean, I don’t think you could price it. I mean, I think if it went to auction, you have to put a reserve at least 40 million on it. That’s me. Um, I don’t know about you guys. Let me know your thoughts. You know, shoot me an email. Let me know what you guys think. Um, but I’d love to hear that thing run. I think, now there’s some videos online if you go to YouTube and whatnot.
There’s some of the, um, you know, histories like back in 2014, uh, Celebes. Uh, Celebes. Um, you know, has a video of it driving around. It’s, you know, early morning, like three would happen. It’s not, but you hear that thing run. Uh, I know DK engineering’s got one DK does this other stuff with the Ferraris and stuff like that.
So, but those things sound just absolutely phenomenal. Um, but anyways, that’s pretty much what I wanted to talk about today was the last Ferrari to win Le Mans. Ferrari 250LM chassis 5893. It’s a great story, I mean, that in itself could be a movie it sounds like. I mean, [00:19:00] I don’t know, you could try and squeeze two hours out of that.
But, um, it’s pretty funny. I mean, it’s just, everything about it from Gregory and Rint. Just, you know, saying screw this. We have no shot. Let’s just beat the hell of the car and just go balls out, um, right off the bat and then being 10 laps down. You can just disappearing and whatnot. And you know, and then a little side.
I was always interesting. You know, whenever you say mass again, Gregory, the guy’s from Kansas, but you say his name, you think he’s German or Austrian. He’s from Europe or something like that. Mastin Gregory. It sounds like a European name, not an American name. You know, and you can rent being the only F one driver that puts posthumously win the F one title.
Um, you know, died tragically, uh, that year. Uh, but he still ended up winning the title with, I think it was like two or three races to go, something like that. But, you know, um, tried story, but phenomenal driver. I mean, he probably would have went on to win a few more F one titles in his time and probably some more.
You know, 25 a mile, whatnot. I mean, just a phenomenal guy. Um, so anyways, [00:20:00] but that’s all I have to talk about today for this podcast, this episode. Uh, I hope you enjoy it. Like I said, spread the word, get it out there, pass it around, shoot emails to people, post it wherever. I’d really appreciate all your help kind of make this grow.
Uh, and any suggestions and thoughts, you know, for this episode or next, the other episodes, I mean, please. Let me know. Um, I’m saying I’m gonna try and mix it up. I’m trying to see what you guys more like to listen to. Like I said, it seems like you like more about the cars itself than maybe like events like the Amelia going to Cavalino, stuff like that.
I don’t know, but I’ll try and do is get more specific about the cars. I know when the first episodes I did, I did on 250 GTOs to all of them. I’m going to get into more specific ones. And I think not next episode, maybe the episode after that. We’re going to get into the one that was parked on a trailer out in the field.
Uh, and sat there for years and got sold to a shop class in Texas, and which now resides in Texas. Mr. Uh, Ralph Lauren’s collection and is worth [00:21:00] God’s amount of money. Um, but anyways, that’s coming up. So I appreciate it. Everyone take care and see you on the flip side. Thanks.
Copyright William Ross, Exotic Car Marketplace a division of Sixty5 Motorsports. This episode is part of Gran Touring Motorsports, Motoring Podcast Network and has been republished with permission.